Third Straight Meet Title for Jockey, Trainer’s First Since 2015
Preakness Meet at Pimlico Opens Thursday, May 9

LAUREL, MD – Jockey Trevor McCarthy claimed his third consecutive meet title and trainer Mike Trombetta earned his first since 2015 as Laurel Park closed its 19-day spring stand Sunday.

Live racing shifts to legendary Pimlico Race Course for the 12-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico starting Thursday, May 9.

McCarthy, who turns 25 May 16, finished with 22 victories, 11 more than Horacio Karamanos, who won twice Sunday to pass Jorge Vargas Jr., Sheldon Russell and Julio Correa for second. Maryland’s leading rider in 2014 and 2016, McCarthy was also first in purse earnings with more than $750,000.

Since returning to the Maryland colony full-time last September, McCarthy captured Laurel’s fall meet with 45 wins to end 2018 and Laurel’s winter meet with 53 victories to open 2019 and now owns eight titles overall.

Among McCarthy’s spring victories at Laurel was Madaket Stable, ERJ Racing, Elayne Stable 5 and Bouchey Thoroughbred Ventures’ Secret Message in the $100,000 Dahlia Stakes April 20.

“It’s nice. I’m very happy with how everything’s going. I’m very lucky and privileged to ride the horses I’m riding,” McCarthy said. “I want to thank my agent, Scotty Silver, and all the owners and trainers that are supporting me. I’m lucky I get to ride a little bit for everybody. It’s just a huge privilege.”

“It’s going to start getting busy. It’s been getting really busy between all the horses coming back from Fair Hill, all the horses coming back into Delaware,” he added. “For the summer we’ll be riding here and Delaware and shipping around to ride some stakes. It’s a busy time of year. It’s time to get tied on and time to go to work. This is the best time of the year. Spring, summer and fall is full force.”

Trombetta, 52, had no horses entered Sunday but ended with 12 wins to snap Claudio Gonzalez’s streak of four straight meet titles at Laurel. Maryland’s top trainer the past two years, Gonzalez finished second with nine wins.

Also tops in purse earnings, Trombetta had 27 top three finishes from 44 starters (61 percent) and saddled record-setting Pasco Stakes winner Win Win Win in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1).

The title is Trombetta’s second in Maryland and first outright. He previously tied with Kieron Magee for Laurel’s 2015 spring championship.

The spring meet finale meant mandatory payouts in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, 50-cent Late Pick 5 and $1 Super Hi-5. The Rainbow 6 began with a carryover of 4,148.73 and returned $9,193.62 for six of six; the Late Pick 5 was worth $3,878.85 for five of five; and the Super Hi-5, which brought a $1,006.45 carryover from Saturday, paid $2,200.10.

In the Rainbow 6, the carryover jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. However, on days when a mandatory payout is scheduled, the entire pool is shared by those holding tickets with the most winners.